09 October,2011 08:54 AM IST | | Yoshita Sengupta
Starting October 14, the city is going to witness a three-day jazz festival, where artists include the likes of Jon Faddis and Louis Hayes
As many are aware, Mumbai was once a hotbed for jazz music, where plenty of local and international artists performed. Now in an attempt to revive this once-famous genre of music, NCPA is organizing a jazz festival in the city from October 14 to 16, where some of the biggest names in jazz music will perform.
The Three Ladies Of Blues performing; (right) Trombonist Steve Turre
Titled JazzMatazz, this three-day festival has performers like Steve Turre, Jon Faddis, Cedar Walton Trio, Louis Hayes, The Cannonball Legacy, The Three Ladies Of Blues, among others.
The festival will fittingly open with a performance Carlton Kitto, often fondly called the 'uncrowned king of jazz in India'. Kitto, a jazz guitarist based in Kolkata specialises in fast-tempo bebop. While most of his contemporaries moved on early to other professions and more 'profitable' genres of music, Kitto has stuck on. He still plays in different Kolkata venues and teaches music.
Also performing on the first day will be the American trumpeter, composer and conductor Jon Faddis. The musician was discovered (when he was only 14 years old) and mentored by the great Dizzy Gillespie himself. Gillespie once famously said of Faddis, "He's the best ever (of the lot), including me!'u00a0
Romit Chaterji, a member of the Jazz Advisory Committee of the NCPA that is organising this festival, says, "We are very kicked about the who's who of the international jazz world visiting Mumbai. There is a demand for jazz music shows and we hope this festival can fill the void."
From the artists performing, he names trombonist Steve Turre and pianist Cedar Walton as those who should not be missed. "Steve has been ranked No 1 or 2 by readers and critics in DownBeat (a highly-regarded US magazine devoted to jazz) for the last 10 years.
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And Walton's original compositions have become part of the standard jazz repertoire," he says. Walton is currently considered as one of the most influential musicians active today. Both Turre and Walton, apart from the US band The Three Ladies of Blues, will perform on the second day.
The best is perhaps on the final day, which will see a lot of performances. These include Beets Brothers, veteran Sri Lankan pianist Harsha Makalande, who is often called the AR Rehman of Sri Lanka, and American jazz drummer Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Legacy.
At: Oct 14 - 16, NCPA, NCPA Marg, NCPA, Nariman Point
Call: 66223724u00a0
